Zach Miner to the DL

Jeez. Another pitcher on the DL This time it is Zach Miner with elbow tendinitis. According to Danny Knobler the injury isn’t serious, but rather than be short handed in the pen for a few days, the Tigers are using the DL to get another arm up.

In fact, this time it’s 2 arms in Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez. One of the two will be sent down prior to Sunday when Andrew Miller will officially be called up.

Bazardo was acquired from Seattle in exchange for minor leaguer Jeff Frazier in the offseason. Bazardo is a right hander who will turn 23 next month. In 11 starts for Toledo he has a 3.77 ERA. His K rate is a rather pedestrian 4.9 per 9 innings and his walk rate is similarly unimpressive at 3.6 per 9. Where he excels is keeping the ball down. He’s picked up twice as many ground outs as fly outs and only allowed 1 homer on the season.

It’s a real testament to how good this team really is to endure this many injuries in key spots and still be rolling along. We aren’t going to need to make any big moves at the deadline because we will be getting so much back around that time.

On Another note…what is Teixeira’s contract status? I’ve heard rumblings about Texas looking to move him because he’s a free agent after the year. How good would he fit in at 1B for us?

Forget about Teixeira, the Rangers would be look for Casey+ at least Maybin or Miller. Which isn’t going to happen.

Hopefully the starters can shoulder this for a little longer, otherwise losses are going to start piling up in bunches.

Chris in Nashville

June 7, 2007 at 11:13 am

It would be great to get him this season, but I was talking about next year when he’s a free agent, I think Dombrowski should go after him HARD. He would be a perfect fit on this team, and our offense would be second to none, and he’s a fine first sacker. Casey is a great guy, but we need an upgrade at that position…and I don’t think Shelton is it.

Also I guarantee if there was a deal..the Rangers would have NO interest in Casey…..and Maybin and Miller are off limits I’m sure…which is why I think they should try to sign him in the offseason so we don’t lose any prospects for him.

Mike R

June 7, 2007 at 11:40 am

Teixeira isn’t coming here via trade, we know that much. In the offseason it was Bonderman + a solid prospect for him, uhh, no thanks. And it’d be something similiar to what BD said to trade for him.

He really wants to play in Baltimore, and they want to accomodate him (won’t happen through a trade unless Texas lower’s it’s price. I heard they want bedard and possibly Markakis, in return… uhhhhhh wow). Plus the fact that he will command a huge contract that year. The other 1B that are FA’s after 08 are Carlos Delgado, Jason Giambi, Nomar Garciaparra, Richie Sexson, Matt LeCroy, and Ben Broussard. Teixeira is the youngest of that group and will get the biggest contract of them. So getting him I don’t think is a likely case. I think what would be more likely is landing someone like a Broussard or something along those lines. If Nick Johnson get’s healthy, I would love the Tigers to make a run to aquire him via trade. I think he’s supposed to be back late in the year from that broken Fibula. I love his patience and he’s still relatively young, though injury proned. I think, when healthy, he’s the most underrated 1st Baseman in the entire league.

Chris in Nashville

June 7, 2007 at 11:51 am

So he’s not a FA until after ’08? Oh ok…I thought he was a FA after this year. That is why Texas wants so much in return. If he doesn’t get moved before next July..that asking price will go down for sure. Even after ’08, with Detroit finally being a place that FA’s want to come, I think if the Tigers offered compromable money, they could land a guy like that. But since that is a year and a half off, I’ll just forget about that for a while.

Surely, this has something to do with moving from starter to reliever again. I’m sure it won’t be serious . . . right?

That being said – when it rains, it pours. Better now than August or September.

Mark in Chicago

June 7, 2007 at 1:33 pm

I agree, Heckler, better now than August or September. However, if things get much worse, August or September might not matter. I’m only joking, of course, I think we’ll be OK as the Sox are playing poorly and Minny (although I never rule them out) might not have the starting pitching depth to put a run together like last year. Plus Mauer isn’t healthy. And don’t rule out the possibility of the A’s making a push for the Wild Card.

That said, these injuries suck, and this is about where I hit the old ‘reset’ button on the playstation….

Mike R

June 7, 2007 at 1:56 pm

I’m ruling Minnesota out. There is no Francisco Liriano to move from the Pen to the rotation this year. That team’s done. In my opinion, of course.

Don’t look now, but the Yankees have won 4 out of 6. They get Clemens on Saturday and Hughes in a couple of weeks. It is not out of the question they could run off 12 out of 15 and be right in the wild card hunt. I fear them.

Doug Purdie

June 7, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Nate Robertson is also going on the 15 day DL for a “tired arm”. Andrew Miller is recalled to replace him in the rotation and will start against the Mets on Sunday according to the San Jose Mercury.

As posted previously, my biggest disappointment with the season to date is that we haven’t taken the opportunitiy to build up more of a lead on the Yankees for a possible wild card race.

Chris Y.

June 7, 2007 at 3:01 pm

Don’t look now, but the Yankees pitching, from to back, is in sad shape with or without Clemens.

I would be more worried about Minny than NYY. They have solid starting pitching depth, a strong pen, the 06 MVP and 06 batting champ (who returns soon).

NYY have got no starting pitching (except for 5 inn. of Clemens every fifth day), A-Rod, a bunch of has-beens, and a bullpen that wouldn’t scare the average A-baller. Plus, the acrid fumes you smell when watching them take the field is their team chemistry. Yanks are cooked.

Mark in Chicago

June 7, 2007 at 3:17 pm

I’m in the “Yankees are done” camp also. It’s a long season, and the Twins made a great run last year, but I don’t see NY pulling that off. Their lack of pitching (starters and bullpen) is well documented, and this will be the largest obstacle to overcome. They also have to play the Red Sox 12 more times, and their defense leaves much to be desired. There are also the onoging distractions of Giambi and A-Rod (who can’t get out of his own way).

I am not ready to write off the Twins yet, although if you match them up with a healthy Tigers team, I’ll take Detroit any day. The Twins have no Liriano, but Baker and Garza can throw, and their bullpen is very strong. If they don’t wear the back end down, I think the Twins will push, but ultimately come up short.

As Leyland likes to say, it’s not the best pitching staff that wins, it’s the healthiest. For now, the Tigers need to get people back, and try to pick up as many wins against weaker teams as they can.

Walewander

June 7, 2007 at 4:46 pm

Dunno where the draft thread went, so I’ll pass on the news here… Tigers drafted Jersey HS RHP Rick Porcello, considered a top-5 talent, but expected to drop to the Yankees at 30 bc of signability concerns. Like Miller last year, Detroit is going for it, and getting a great prospect at a late slot.

Here is John Sickels on Porcello:

Considered the top high school pitcher available in the draft, Porcello is the current favorite to go Number Two overall to Kansas City.
If you could design a “perfect” high school pitching prospect, it would be hard to beat Porcello. He’s tall and lanky…6-5, 190…with some projection left in his body. He’s athletic. He already throws 93-94 MPH, hitting 96-98 at times. His curveball and slider are both very good pitches. His changeup wasn’t very good last year according to my sources, but has really improved this season, giving him four pitches that should be above-average, or better, at the major league level. Control, an issue in the past, has also taken a major step forward this year. He’s very intelligent, with a 3.94 GPA for Seton Hall Prep.

So, let’s see….good size, athletic, throws hard, throws strikes, has a diverse arsenal, still has projectability, knows how to pitch, intelligent, has improved his previous weaknesses. Hard to beat all that.

What about injury risk? His mechanics are clean and his athleticism helps. Also, coming from a cold-weather high school state, he has a bit less wear and tear on his arm than high school pitchers from warmer climes. He’s been active on the showcase circuit so he doesn’t lack high-level experience.

He’s got just about everything going for him, and his risk of injury or failure is no higher than for any other high school pitcher, and perhaps a bit lower.

Robertson was battered around that night against the Rangers. He insisted he was healthy, but hit the DL the next day with a tired arm. It’s obvious that Robertson does not believe he belongs on the DL and the Tigers decided this was best.

The 29 year-old southpaw was excellent in April, but has really tanked starting May 9th. He’s making $3.26MM this year and won’t become a free agent until after the 2009 season. Robertson has a lot in common with teammate Kenny Rogers, and it would be wise for a team to buy low on him if possible.

The former Marlin has dealt with a dead arm before in 2005, and it’s likely he’ll snap out of this and return to form. His 223.6 innings last year (playoffs included) were easily a career high.

Latest Comments

Jud The games are more relaxing to watch...no expectations of where we stand. I have actually kind of enjoyed this series.

tbran No worries; the prospects are on the way! Send in the prospects!

jud The only thing left this year is who will get to .099 for the second half first Victor or Avila...........hey

Tony de Florida My opinions:
Anthony Gose is getting tiresome. It's OK to be in a slump but why aren't you trying to get

Coleman Victor back to being the worst DH in baseball. A true rally killer.

StorminNorman$ Sanchez now has given up 24 HR's this year, 2nd only to Hughes (MIN) w/25

jud Hey dipstick manager!! This is Krol time...your down 4...you may need Hardy if you have a lead tomorrow, with Wilson.....Assmus

jud Tomorrow...don't watch either..Jimenez will throw 25-50 pitches out of the strikezone that the Tigers will flail at...6-2 O's.Jimenez NEVER throws

jud Marte gets 3 hits yesterday including a dinger, two of those hits against RH pitchers. So Capt Smarty burries him

jud This just in:..WANT AD....Detroit Free Press...
Immediate openings for any man or woman, OR Monique Davis, who can pitch out